92 » OpenRoad Driver
EXTRAS
Pure Love:
Passion Wines
by Roslyne Buchanan
Perhaps the word passion is bandied about so
broadly, its meaning is lost in the purest sense.
Yet when you witness people invest heart and
soul into their work, another person or a cause,
there’s no other word that rings as true.
I left the Okanagan in the late 1970s and
returned recently to discover the amazing
evolution of the wine industry and its culinary
partners. That kind of progress doesn’t just
happen. It takes leadership, sacrifice, tenacity
and love. Called nectar of the gods, wine
resonates with “the way to one’s heart is
through the stomach.” We thought it’d be
fun to ask four passionate wineries for two
romantic wines with food pairings.
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Bestowed Intervin International Wine Awards’ Winery of the
Year 2014/15, Painted Rock Estate Winery prides itself as “an
extension of a family.” Exploring wineries in southern France, the
Skinners dreamt of their own vineyard and the name honours
family traditions. Painted Rock refers to ancient pictographs that
John discovered on rocks beyond the vineyards, hearkening back to
his childhood digging for artifacts with his father. Recognizing the
historic significance, John learned from local First Nations that the
pictographs are symbolic of a spirit walk, or coming of age. Painted
Rock tributes family, community and the winery’s goals to embrace
old-world traditions alongside the imagination of the new world.
It strives to “craft superlative wines from 100% estate-grown fruit
unlocking the unique potential” of its terroir while emphasizing
sustainability and quality. “We are getting better and so are the
wines,” says Skinner. The ultra-modern facility overlooks Penticton’s
eastern shore of Skaha Lake and sparkles like a diamond drenched
in light on the vineyard bench.
Pairing partner is Kelowna’s RauDZ Regional Table and its “support
local, buy local and eat and drink local” philosophy. “Creating an
amazing dining experience for guests is our focus so our wines are